Reflecting on some of the top sports stories involving area teams and athletes in these random thoughts for a New Year's Eve Tuesday:

» Tokay grad and Stockton product Julius Thomas had a breakout season with the Broncos. The third-year tight end, who saw action in nine games his first two seasons, caught 65 passes for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns, including Peyton Manning's NFL-record 51st TD pass of the season. Thomas was selected to play in the Pro Bowl, and the Broncos have the AFC's No. 1 seed in the upcoming playoffs.

» Lincoln graduate Brandin Cooks became the first Stockton product to win the Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver. Cooks, a junior at Oregon State, soon will decide whether to return for his senior season or enter the NFL Draft.

» The World of Outlaws Series made its Stockton debut at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, and more than 10,000 came to see the races and a special appearance by NASCAR star Tony Stewart. The event's organizers, Tony and Carol Noceti, plan to have the series return to the fairgrounds in 2014.

» The Stockton Thunder advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in team history. Success brought change to the franchise. Coach Matt Thomas and president Dan Chapman moved on - Thomas to coach at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and Chapman to work in the Pacific athletic department. Rich Kromm took over as coach and Brian Sandy as president.

» The Pacific men's basketball program bid a fond farewell to Bob Thomason, who retired after coaching 25 seasons at his alma mater. Thomason's final season included the Big West Conference tournament championship and his fifth appearance in the NCAA tournament.

» Thomason's longtime assistant, Ron Verlin, was selected as his successor and ushered Pacific men's basketball back into the West Coast Conference after 42 years in the Big West.

» The Pacific women's basketball team set a program record with 27 wins, earned its first conference regular-season championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

» Afure Jemerigbe, a former St. Mary's standout, is believed to be the first Stockton product to play in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Jemerigbe and Cal reached the women's national semifinals for the first time, but lost to Louisville in New Orleans. Jemerigbe is in her senior season at Cal.

» The Pacific men's water polo team won the regular season title in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, was ranked No. 1 in the country for four weeks, and advanced to the NCAA Championship match, ultimately losing to USC, 11-10, in overtime.

» Lincoln High's Jessica Rodriguez won the 146-pound weight division at the Girls California Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Championships in Lemoore. Now a senior, Rodriguez went unbeaten in her third state tournament appearance.